Written Answers Thursday 7 June 2007

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake a review of the system of penalties applied to mistakes in applications for agricultural grants and subsidies, and of the associated appeal system, with a view to finding ways of making the system fairer and quicker for farmers and crofters.

Richard Lochhead: We shall be having early discussions with key stakeholders on general issues surrounding the implementation of the common agricultural policy. We shall also be undertaking a review of the EU agricultural subsidies appeals procedure.

Antisocial Behaviour

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dispersal orders have been introduced and where they have been applied.

Fergus Ewing: Up to the end of September 2006, 13 dispersal orders were granted in nine locations across Scotland: one each in Dingwall, Mid Calder, Moffat, Lockerbie, Sauchie, and Glasgow; two each in Dumfries and Aberdeen, and three in Edinburgh.

  Statistics for the use of the measures in the Antisocial Behaviour Act between October 2006 and March 2007 will be released later this month.

Care of Elderly People

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the independent elderly care home sector about increasing care home places in the Highlands and Islands.

Shona Robison: It is the responsibility of each local authority to determine what level of provision is required to meet the needs of its local population and to arrange an appropriate range of services.

  We of course recognise the importance of providing authorities with sufficient resources to fulfil that responsibility. We will therefore ensure in the forthcoming spending review that provision is made to ensure an appropriate availability of care home places for those who need residential care.

Communities Scotland

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to transfer the functions of Communities Scotland to local authorities.

Stewart Maxwell: In his statement to Parliament on 24 May 2007 about our approach to Government, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth spoke about the need to re-assess the relationship between the Scottish Government, agencies and public bodies. In that context, I am currently in discussions with officials about the role and functions of Communities Scotland. Once these discussions are concluded I will make an announcement about the agency.

Defence

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to pursue the establishment of a protocol with Westminster which would allow the Scottish Parliament a veto over the deployment of military resources and personnel based in Scotland.

Bruce Crawford: We have no such plans at present.

Energy Efficiency

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to increase the use of microrenewable technologies.

Jim Mather: The Executive is committed to increasing the use of microrenewable technologies and supports a coherent approach to energy policy, recognising that promoting reduced energy consumption and promoting low carbon technologies are key to achieving sustainable economic growth. The Executive’s proposed Energy Strategy for Scotland and the introduction of a Climate Change Bill in Scotland will recognise the role that microrenewables can play in achieving these aims.

Environment

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to use the justice system to tackle noise pollution in town centres.

Michael Russell: The Executive has already put in place a number of initiatives to tackle noise across Scotland. These include the antisocial behaviour legislation, which covers noise from private dwellings, dispersal powers, and provisions to allow the police to seize vehicles driven antisocially.

Ferry Services

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when there will be an announcement anent the placing of a contract to construct a passenger ferry vessel for Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd.

Stewart Stevenson: Invitations to Tender to construct a new vessel to serve on the routes between Kennacraig and Islay were issued to six shipyards on 30 May 2007 by CalMac Ferries Ltd on behalf of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. It is currently expected that the order for the vessel will be placed in the autumn of 2007.

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to authorise the signing of a contract for the construction of a new fisheries protection vessel for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.

Richard Lochhead: The Fleet Renewal Programme has led to an important improvement in the capability of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) to deliver its fisheries enforcement duties, and by the end of this year three out of four of the SFPA’s vessels will be new. Therefore, I propose to initiate a review of the Fleet Renewal Programme in order to assess the performance aims of the agency, including the case for an increase in the SFPA’s fleet from four to five vessels, the case for an enhanced presence in inshore waters around Scotland in relation to monitoring and surveillance tasks, and other related matters. Pending that review, a contract for the construction of a new fisheries protection vessel is not anticipated in the immediate future.

Food Labelling

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to extend the labelling of locally produced food to clearly record that Scotland is the country of origin.

Richard Lochhead: I am advised on food and feed issues, including labelling, by the Food Standards Agency. Food labelling rules are governed by EU law. Where there are no mandatory requirements, Scottish food can be labelled on a voluntary basis provided it does not mislead the purchaser. The agency has advised me that existing country of origin labelling requirements are currently being considered as part of a wider EU review of food labelling.

Fostering

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its strategy on fostering, following the previous administration’s consultation on the matter which ended in February 2007.

Adam Ingram: A fostering and kinship care strategy will be published later in 2007.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that health practitioners will commit to working in rural areas.

Shona Robison: It is a matter of personal choice on the part of the health care professional whether or not they wish to work in a remote and rural area of Scotland. Local health systems determine local needs and NHSScotland has a workforce planning framework in place to assist NHS boards in planning ahead for the workforce they need and the actions they require to take to deliver future services for patients.

  A range of policies, including incentive schemes, are in place which support recruitment and retention in remote and rural areas. Improved educational support for rural health care is being developed and implemented which will make rural training more accessible and attractive.

  In addition; the Government is committed to supporting and developing Rural General Hospitals, building on the work of the National Remote and Rural Steering Group, which will encourage health practitioners to work in rural areas. A core set of services to be delivered in those areas will be published in late summer 2007.

  A tripartite group made up of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland; NES; and the National Remote and Rural Steering Group is developing appropriate training pathways for doctors in remote and rural areas, including Rural General Hospitals. That group is also defining the skills and competencies required, scoping educational requirements, including appropriate curricula and identifying the infrastructure for continuing professional development. The Remote and Rural Steering Group believes that the provision of such training, tailored to the specific needs of remote and rural health services, will provide a sustainable solution to the issue of medical workforce supply which has been problematic for rural areas in the past.

Homelessness

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were defined as homeless in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, broken down by local authority.

Stewart Maxwell: The numbers of applicant households assessed as homeless under the homelessness legislation by local authorities are shown in the following table.

  Number of Applications Assessed as Homeless by Local Authority: 1996-97 to 2005-06

  

 
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Scotland
24,700
27,000
29,000
29,900
29,500
32,800
35,067
36,711
34,866
36,625


Aberdeen City
830
920
1,030
1,160
1,080
990
844
806
659
1,099


Aberdeenshire
740
700
690
750
650
660
667
629
731
754


Angus
340
330
450
380
280
320
446
538
531
550


Argyll and Bute
320
260
250
250
230
370
515
561
561
658


Clackmannanshire
150
150
280
320
350
410
376
408
512
600


Dumfries and Galloway
420
450
390
590
530
650
780
801
860
842


Dundee City
630
630
550
510
530
520
415
366
378
342


East Ayrshire
330
400
420
370
400
460
671
692
808
734


East Dunbartonshire
290
260
250
250
250
250
258
321
258
364


East Lothian
390
390
380
390
340
340
435
436
462
561


East Renfrewshire
60
100
100
180
130
150
122
195
246
261


Edinburgh, City of
2,640
2,840
3,150
3,560
3,680
3,700
3,816
4,283
4,192
4,291


Eilean Siar
100
130
70
100
60
70
124
130
173
155


Falkirk
470
570
720
890
940
950
1,021
992
809
1,000


Fife
1,170
1,540
1,940
1,840
1,640
2,020
2,326
2,827
2,626
2,732


Glasgow City
9,320
10,260
10,570
10,250
10,150
12,030
11,038
10,624
8,439
8,634


Highland
370
390
370
380
530
550
791
1,220
1,293
1,352


Inverclyde
250
320
280
200
210
240
364
550
430
510


Midlothian
370
340
390
310
280
330
405
427
494
485


Moray
90
190
110
180
210
270
546
384
412
347


North Ayrshire
420
530
580
700
680
860
1,382
1,296
1,112
1,082


North Lanarkshire
1,030
1,000
1,360
1,080
1,030
1,170
1,649
1,972
2,763
2,881


Orkney
60
70
70
80
60
80
50
65
88
87


Perth and Kinross
130
120
120
230
430
440
654
362
307
391


Renfrewshire
310
270
180
440
630
470
565
652
689
633


Scottish Borders
480
390
410
410
420
440
388
598
470
530


Shetland
140
120
100
80
110
120
109
107
76
76


South Ayrshire
640
580
600
640
590
620
551
554
552
546


South Lanarkshire
860
1,070
1,090
1,020
990
1,030
1,335
1,402
1,267
1,402


Stirling
570
660
690
630
510
500
505
455
535
520


West Dunbartonshire
220
290
370
550
590
700
835
860
1,133
1,230


West Lothian
570
710
1,050
1,260
1,040
1,070
1,084
1,198
1,000
976



  Source: HL1 returns by local authorities to the Scottish Executive Communities Analytical Services Directorate.

  Notes:

  1. All applications within period assessed as homeless (excluding potentially homeless).

  2. Some households may have applied several times during the period, and will be counted more than once.

  3. Data prior to 2002 are estimated due to missing returns (rounded to the nearest 100 for Scotland level and the nearest 10 for local authority level).

  4. Due to the live nature of the data collection system, figures are updated on a continuous basis and the information published here may differ from that published previously.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates requires to be invested in mental health and wellbeing services in order to achieve a 10% reduction in use of anti-depressants by 2009.

Shona Robison: NHS boards and their partners are already making a significant investment in mental health and wellbeing services. They are using this existing investment to increase the availability of evidence based psychological therapies and to improve uptake of self help and social prescribing approaches to help achieve a reduction in the use of antidepressants.

  While there are costs to increasing provision in this way there are also savings, in particular, to the prescribing budget. We have signalled our intention to reduce the use of antidepressants and will be monitoring progress on this work to see if further interventions are required to achieve our objective of a 10% reduction by 2009.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that people with mental health problems receive support and treatment at the earliest possible stage.

Shona Robison: We will continue to work in partnership with NHS boards, local authorities, the voluntary sector and other partners to deliver a healthier, fairer Scotland for all those with a mental health problem, and for their carers and families.

  That work will include attention to mental health promotion, prevention, care, treatment and supported recovery and to ensuring the earliest possible identification of need.

  The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the development of early intervention in mental health and wellbeing services.

National Health Service

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will implement a policy of presumption against the centralisation of core hospital services.

Nicola Sturgeon: As I made clear in my statement to Parliament yesterday, I will operate a presumption against centralisation of core services whenever NHS boards bring forward proposals for significant service changes.

  That does not mean no change in any circumstances. However, it does mean that any proposals will have to be robust, that the alternatives will have to be properly considered, and that due weight must be given to public opinion. To ensure this is the case, I have decided that all future significant service change proposals should be subject to independent scrutiny.

  I will make a further announcement soon about the form of independent scrutiny that will apply to future service change proposals.

Organic Aid

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to enhance the organic aid scheme.

Richard Lochhead: Support for organic farming will continue under the new Scottish Rural Development Programme and fall under Rural Development Contracts. After my announcement last week on the SRDP budget I can confirm that the allocation for support of organic farming will be £50 million, almost £20 million more than was committed under the last Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Rail Network

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place for the re-opening of Laurencekirk station and when the first passenger service is scheduled to begin.

Stewart Stevenson: Detailed implementation planning is being undertaken and Transport Scotland expects to formally enter an implementation agreement with Network Rail shortly.

  December 2008 marks railway timetable change date and is the most likely date for station re-opening. The station will be opened earlier in 2008 if this is practicable.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Regional Selective Assistance

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Bath Press Ltd and what specific action it will take to assist the 47 members of staff who have lost their jobs at the Blantyre-based printers.

Jim Mather: Following press coverage of the possible closure, Executive officials contacted the company to assess the impact on a Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant it received.

  Assistance to workers affected by the potential redundancy will be provided through our PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) framework. Initial PACE presentations and one-to-one interviews with the affected workers will be provided during the 90 day consultation period. Following this, specific PACE assistance will be tailored to individuals’ needs as they are identified and is likely to include: full JobCentre Plus services; access to training; early access to Training for Work, and advice on alternative employment opportunities.

Roads

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to upgrade the A82.

Stewart Stevenson: The A82 Tarbet to Fort William Action Plan recommended a ten year improvement programme at a cost of £90 million. The outcome of this study will feed into the Strategic Transport Projects Review which will examine the needs of our national strategic transport corridors. This is due to report in summer 2008.

  Meantime, Transport Scotland is planning a £16 million improvement package to be delivered over the next five years. This package includes improvements at Pulpit Rock between Tarbet and Ardlui, a Western Bypass at Crianlarich, additional road safety measures, new lay-bys and picnic sites.

Roads

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support will be given to connect the A9 and A96 to the A82 in south Inverness.

Stewart Stevenson: Highland Council is currently carrying out the Inverness South Connectivity Study into possible improvements to the Inverness Southern Distributor Road (ISDR), including its connections with the A9 trunk road and onwards to the A96. This study is programmed to be completed in autumn 2007. Officials from Transport Scotland are working closely with Highland Council and are on the working group to represent trunk road interests in relation to the connections between the ISDR and the existing trunk road network.

Roads

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to upgrade the A95.

Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review which is due to report in summer 2008 will consider the A95 as a link connecting the Inverness to Perth and the Inverness to Aberdeen national strategic transport corridors.

Rural Affairs

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what new measures it will put in place to support rural development and, in particular, wealth creation in the Borders and across Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The Government proposes to invest £1.6 billion in rural Scotland over the next seven years through the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13.

  Measures to deliver a wealthier and fairer Scotland include:

  
£31 million for the restructuring of agricultural businesses;
£70 million for the processing and marketing of agriculture and forestry products;
£18 million for diversification out of agriculture or forestry;
£18 million for the creation and development of micro-enterprises;
£10 million to deliver our manifesto commitment to new entrants to farming, and
£43 million in skills development in rural areas, underpinning our commitment to economic development and driving forward a smarter Scotland.


  We look forward to receiving from the Borders high-quality applications for funding under these measures once the programme is up and running.

Rural Affairs

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to streamline the operation of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Richard Lochhead: The Howat report published last week clearly supports our view that the landscape of public sector delivery is crowded. Reviewing and understanding this landscape will allow changes to be made that both create efficiencies but more importantly improve the service provided to our customers - whether they be land managers, individuals, businesses or communities. The roles, functions and structures of SEPA and SNH will be considered in that context.

Sport

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reaffirm its support for the relocation of sportscotland to the east end of Glasgow.

John Swinney: We will be reviewing the role and needs of sportscotland alongside our commitment to review the cluttered landscape of public bodies and we will take account of location issues within this context. An announcement will be made when appropriate.

Suicide

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people committed suicide in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by (a) gender and (b) age.

Jim Mather: In presenting statistics on suicides it is conventional to combine deaths classified as intentional self-harm (suicides) with those classified as events of undetermined intent. This is because the majority of the latter are likely to have been suicides. The following table provides information on this basis.

  Deaths Caused by Intentional Self-Harm and Events of Undetermined Intent1 Scotland, 2001-05

  

Age and Gender
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005


Persons
887
899
794
835
763


(a) by gender


Males
646
676
578
609
549


Females
241
223
216
226
214


(b) by age group


Under 25
129
132
104
101
107


25 - 34
177
208
159
136
142


35 - 44
228
204
194
240
192


45 - 54
149
137
143
163
131


55 - 64
101
110
92
95
96


65 and over
103
108
102
100
95



  Note:1. ICD10 codes X60-X84, Y10-Y34, Y87.0, Y87.2.

Voluntary Sector

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for corporate social responsibility, the voluntary sector and the social economy.

John Swinney: We recognise that volunteers, voluntary organisations and social enterprises have a major contribution to make across our five strategic objectives and we will work closely with the sector to enhance the lives of individuals and communities across Scotland.

  We are committed to supporting the wider social economy and the important contribution social enterprise can make to life in Scotland.

Wildlife

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents involving deer hitting cars have been reported on roads that are the responsibility of Scotland TranServ since it took over maintenance duties.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive Road Information System (SERIS) Accident database does not hold information specifically regarding deer-related collisions as personal injury accident reports rarely record this.

  A UK research project between 2000-06 indicated that there were around 70 accidents in Scotland, although this figure is based on incomplete data from various sources and cannot be considered completely accurate.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Wildlife

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions have been given to Scotland TranServ and local authorities regarding the reclamation of costs incurred in the repair of safety barriers and other road furniture as a result of accidents caused by deer hitting vehicles.

Stewart Stevenson: No specific instructions on this matter have been given to Scotland TranServ or local authorities.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Building

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S2W-31152 by Kenny MacAskill on 29 January 2007, what stage has been reached in assessing the energy efficiency rating of the Parliament under the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC).

Alex Fergusson: We are in contact with the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) on this matter and understand they are working with professional organisations to identify members who can do the eventual certification work. Progress is at an advanced stage with the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers, Scotland (CIBSE), and we understand members who are competent to produce an Energy Performance Certificate will be identified later this year. Guidance for building owners is currently being prepared by the SBSA for publication and we expect details of the method of modelling to be part of this guidance. Our intention is to apply this method to the Holyrood building to calculate its rating as soon as we are in a position to do so.